Multi-million price soars to convert Laois convent into Portlaoise housing

A long awaited landmark housing project in the historic centre of Portlaoise has finally got the green light to begin.

The derelict Portlaoise Presentation convent and its surrounding lands on Church Street are to be turned into a 52 unit social housing development with community rooms and gardens.

The project is expected to cost €26 million, in a joint effort by Laois County Council and the Sophia Housing Association.

It is a big jump from the €10 million announced for the project back in 2018.

The new homes are hoped to be ready by the start of 2026.

On  Monday November 27, Laois County Council CEO John Muholland announced the Department of Housing's approval of the contractor selected by Sophia, speaking at the monthly meeting.

“On the convent I understand that approval has been sanctioned by the department. €26 million is the estimated cost. It is good news for Laois and the town of Portlaoise.

“This was the last big ticket project for urban regeneration funding,” Mr Mulholland said.

“I hope to see the contract signed with the tenderer before Christmas,” the CEO added.

The Department later confirmed approval also to the Leinster Express / Laois Live .

The plan for Portlaoise convent.

A spokesperson for Sophia gave an estimated timeline in a statement to the Leinster Express / Laois Live earlier this week as they awaited approval.

“The main contract works were tendered earlier this year through the public procurement process and a tender report and recommendation has been submitted to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage on behalf of Sophia Housing Association, supported by Laois County Council.

“Approval on whether to proceed with the appointment of the preferred contractor is now awaited. This project will see 52 new homes being built on this site.

“A 24 month construction programme is expected and contractor would usually start on site within a few months of contract award,” the spokesperson said.

The Sophia Housing project will produce 48 apartments across several apartment blocks, along with four houses.
All will have one or two bedrooms for people on Laois County Council’s housing list.

The listed buildings are to be carefully restored. The project will offer community spaces for public use and social gatherings, and a new public parkland bordering the Triogue River, which will be part of the blueway shortcut through the town.

There will be a plaza and vegetable allotments. The wall at the front of the convent will be removed to integrate it into the streetscape.

The site has a long and colourful history. It has a 16th century stone tower dating back to the time of the town's military fort across the road, with both still largely intact.

The original building was later a constable's house, a gaol, and an infirmary before the Presentation Sisters m0ved in and built the convent, schools and gardens around it.

The town's catholic church was built to its left, later demolished in 1977.

The site also includes the former Ha'penny Babies School and Sacred Heart primary school, all now to be renovated in the ambitious project.

For over a decade since it was vacated by the Sisters, the convent has deteriorated due to vandalism.

A previous plan by the Presentation sisters to convert the convent for social housing fell apart after local objections.

The sisters had sought and failed in 2012 to remove it from the Record of Protected Structures, to allow for redevelopment.

The protected structure was boarded up and was partially damaged in 2015 when it was set on fire by trespassers.

In early 2016 it was part of 8 acres of Portlaoise town centre land for sale at €2.5m, jointly by the parish and the Presentation Sisters.

The Sacred Heart school was vacated in 2017 when the school was amalgated to be part of the new Holy Family parish schools.

Landmark Laois convent to be used for social housing

It is over five years since the project was announced to have won approval in principal for €10.06 million, in July 2018. under the Department of Housing Capital Assistance Scheme under Rebuilding Ireland. That was for a fewer 47 housing units.

In autumn 2021 work began to prepare the site and demolish prefabs on Church Avenue that were used by the former Scoil Mhuire school before it relocated to the Holy Family school.

The site includes land to the left of the convent where Portlaoise's former parish church stood before it was demolished to be replaced by St Peter & Paul’s church.